The taste buds of 400 locals are about to be set into overdrive when Pennsbury Manor hosts its seventh annual Brews & Bites event.
Scheduled for Saturday, June 29, from 3 to 7 p.m. on the scenic grounds of William Penn’s former estate, the highly-anticipated tradition is set to feature more drinks, food and entertainment than ever before. And the best part? Proceeds benefit educational programming, giving area elementary schoolers the chance to experience and learn about the vast history of their state’s founding.
According to Sara Rudich, Pennsbury’s managing director, there was a dual purpose to launching Brews & Bites seven years ago.
“We want to be able to do two things with this – have people come out and enjoy a fun, entertaining day while at the same time, learning about this history of Pennsbury Manor and particularly, the brewing process that William Penn had at his plantation. So we will be doing colonial brewing, and people will get a chance to taste the colonial beer recipes that our brewers do throughout the year,” Rudich said. “It’s a way for us to be able to bring a fun, entertaining afternoon on the grounds of Pennsbury.”
With the Delaware River serving as a stunning backdrop, guests can enjoy lawn games, live entertainment from Philadelphia’s 11-piece band 2nd Vision, a slew of food trucks, and samplings from 27 breweries, wineries and distilleries – the event’s biggest draw to date.
Participating drink vendors hail from Bucks and Montgomery counties, Philadelphia and New Jersey, and include Broken Goblet, Naked Brewing, Neshaminy Creek, Odd Logic, 1675 Spirits, Moss Mill Brewing and more.
Everything will be accessible under two large tents set up on the river lawn by the Manor House, allowing the event to take place rain or shine.
This year, 100 VIP tickets are being offered to those seeking a more intimate beer festival program.
“They get an additional hour of tastings at the very beginning. They’re allowed to arrive early at 3 p.m. and, from 3 to 4 p.m., we have free, catered food for the VIPs and the breweries and drink vendors will be pouring speciality beverages during that hour just for the VIPs to taste,” Rudich said.
Brews & Bites opens to the general public at 4 p.m., with 300 tickets available. These guests can take advantage of three hours of tastings and can purchase food from participating trucks. All attendees receive a souvenir glass.
Also available is a designated driver ticket option. This includes a bottle of water and access to the food sampling tent from 3 to 4 p.m., though designated drivers will not receive a tasting mug and are not permitted to sample any beer, wine, cider or distilled spirits.
Rudich encouraged interested attendees to purchase tickets in advance online. Not only will this ensure they get them before the event sells out, it will streamline the admission process and grant them quicker entry.
Proceeds from Brews & Bites will benefit Pennsbury Manor’s new William Penn Legacy Scholarship program, which helps students from Title 1 schools come to Pennsbury Manor. While there is funding available to pay for admission to Pennsbury, there is none to cover transportation to the site. The Legacy Scholarship helps pay for the buses.
“We see over 10,000 school kids a year. It’s really important for them to be able to understand what William and Hannah Penn had created, this special colony of Pennsylvania with immigration focus and really just tolerance, entrepreneurship and environmentalism,” Rudich said. “They learn how what William and Hannah Penn established is relevant to today. So the educational programs are very important for us to be able to get the kids to make those connections to the 17th and 18th centuries, and events like Brews & Bites make it a fun way for supporters and donors to help fund those students to come to Pennsbury.”
2019’s sponsors are Parx Casino, Streamline Payroll Company, Steve Mooney (Farmers Insurance), Inspire Energy, WBCB 1490 and Pat Deon Beverages. ••
If you go…
The seventh annual Brews & Bites takes place on Saturday, June 29, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Pennsbury Manor, 400 Pennsbury Memorial Road, Morrisville. VIP tickets are $55, general admission is $40, and designated driver is $25. No one under 21 will be admitted. Must present valid ID at the door. No outside food/drinks allowed. For information and to purchase tickets, visit pennsburymanor.org/events/brews-bites-at-pennsbury-manor
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
